Illumination and viewing system for vacuum or pressure chamber

ABSTRACT

A vacuum or pressure chamber having a door provided therein with a circular transparent window and a circular, tubular viewing port in front of and smaller than the window. An annular lamp encircles the tubular viewing port in front of and adjacent the window and serves to illuminate the interior of the chamber.

United States Patent King et al.

Oct. 9, 1973 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 341,708 1/1931 GreatBritain 240/2 VC [75] Inventors: James Robert King, Van Nuys;

Gerald D. Myers, Sepulveda, both of Calif. Primary ExaminerFred L. Braun[73] Assignee: King Nutronics Corporation, Van Attorney-Ford Hams etNuys, Calif.

[22] Filed: May 5, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 250,594 [57] ABSTRACT A vacuumor pressure chamber having a door pro- [52] US. Cl 240/2 R vided {hereinwith a circular transparent window and a [51] Int. Cl. F2lv 33/00circular, tubular viewing port in front of and smaller Field of Search240/2 2 2 than the window. An annular lamp encircles the tubu- 0/ W larviewing port in front of and adjacent the window and serves toilluminate the interior of the chamber. [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 1,311,186 7/1919 Silverman 1.240/2 MA /4 z 26 E 5 Z2 a /6* l' I l] q I l i l 24" R r 30 Z0 6 iBACKGROUND OF INVENTION DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT OF INVENTIONIn the drawing, the numeral designates generally The present inventionrelates in general to an illumi- 5 a pressure or vacuum chamber equippedwith a h nation and viewing system which illuminates a chamber on oneside of a wall and which permits viewing of the interior of the chamberfrom the opposite side of the wall.

Since the invention is particularly applicable to an illumination andviewing system for a pressure or vacuum chamber having a door providedwith a viewing window therein, the invention will be considered in suchconnection herein for convenience. However, it will be understood thatthe invention is susceptible of other applications.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF INVENTION A general object of the invention is toprovide an illumination and viewing system which includes illuminatingmeans externally of the chamber so that it is not affected by highpressure or vacuum within the chamber.

More particularly, an important object of the invention is to provide anilluminating means which illuminates the interior of the chamber throughthe viewing window.

Another important object is to provide an illumination and viewingsystem wherein the illuminating means does not interfere with viewing ofthe interior of the chamber through the window.

Still another important object is to provide a tubular viewing portwhich is coaxial with the window and which shields the viewer from theilluminating means.

The invention may be summarized as including, and a further importantobject is to provide an illumination and viewing system which includes:a chamber wall having a circular window opening; a circular transparentwindow in the opening; tubular viewing means of circular cross sectionproviding a circular viewing port coaxial with and smaller than thewindow; and annular illuminating means adjacent and in front of thewindow and encircling the tubular viewing means.

With the foregoing construction, the illuminating means illuminates theinterior of the chamber through the periphery of the window, while thetubular viewing means, which is opaque, shields the viewer from directlight from the illuminating means, which are important features.

The foregoing objects, advantages, features and results of the presentinvention, together with various other objects, advantages, features andresults which will be evident to those skilled in the art to which theinvention relates in the light of this disclosure, may be achieved withthe exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrated in theaccompanying drawing and described in detail hereinafter.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a vacuum or pressure chamber whichincludes a door embodying the illumination and viewing system of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken as indicated by the arrowedline 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken as indicated bythe arrowed line 3-3 of FIG. 2 of the drawing.

ber wall or door 12. This door may be mounted for opening and closingmovement in any suitable manner, not shown.

The door is provided therein with a circular window opening 14containing a circular transparent window 16. The latter is seatedagainst an inwardly facing annular shoulder 18 to resist internalpressure within the chamber 10. The window 16 is secured in its opening14 by an annular retainer 20 which resists negative pressure within thechamber. An O-ring seal 21 encircles the window 16.

Coaxial with the circular window 16 is a tubular viewing means 22 ofcircular cross section which forms part of the door 12 and whichprovides a tubular viewing port 24 of circular cross section. Theviewing port 24 is considerably smaller than the window 16.

Provided in the door 12 in front of and adjacent the periphery of thewindow 16 is an inwardly facing, annular recess 26 which encircles thetubular viewing means 22. Within the recess 26 is an annularilluminating means 28 which also encircles the tubular viewing means 22.Preferably, the annular illuminating means 28 is simply an annular lamp30 suitably mounted in the recess 26 and suitably connected to a sourceof electricity, as by means of an electric cord 32, FIG. 1.

With the foregoing construction, the annular lamp 30 is locatedexternally of the chamber 10 so that it is not affected by pressure orvacuum within the chamber, the O-ring 21 preventing a positive ornegative pressure in the chamber from reaching the lamp. The lamp 30illuminates the interior of the chamber 10 through the peripheralportions of the window 16 and, at the same time, the tubular viewingmeans 22 shields the viewer from direct light emanating from the lamp 30while providing a clear field of view through the central portions ofthe window. Thus, the invention provides a very simple and effective wayof illuminating the interior of a chamber, such as the chamber 10,through a wall thereof, such as the door 12.

Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been disclosed forpurposes of illustration, it will be understood that various changes,modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in such embodimentwithout departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by theclaims appearing hereinafter.

We claim as our invention:

1. In an illumination and viewing system, the combination of:

a chamber including a wall separating a viewer from an object to beviewed within the chamber, said wall having a window opening therein;

a transparent window in said opening;

tubular means having an open end on one side of said wall providing aviewing port in register with and smaller than said window for viewingan object on the other side of said wall; and

' illuminating means on said one side of said wall adjacent said windowand spaced laterally outward of said tubular means for projecting lightdirectly through said window to illuminate said object, said tubularmeans including a shield for blocking direct 3 4 light from saidilluminating means to the viewer at nating means is positioned aboutsaid tubular means the open end of said tubular means. and overlies iwindow 2. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said tubular meansincludes a window end positioned substantially flush with said windowSaid window end forming Said 5 her is a pressure or vacuum chamber, andsa1d window Shiem is sealed in said window opening.

3. A system as defined in claim 2 wherein said illumi- 4. A system asdefined in claim 2 wherein said cham-

1. In an illumination and viewing system, the combination of: a chamberincluding a wall separating a viewer from an object to be viewed withinthe chamber, said wall having a window opening therein; a transparentwindow in said opening; tubular means having an open end on one side ofsaid wall providing a viewing port in register with and smaller thansaid window for viewing an object on the other side of said wall; andilluminating means on said one side of said wall adjacent said windowand spaced laterally outward of said tubular means for projecting lightdirectly through said window to illuminate said object, said tubularmeans including a shield for blocking direct light from saidilluminating means to the viewer at the open end of said tubular means.2. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said tubular means includes awindow end positioned substantially flush with said window, said windowend forming said shield.
 3. A system as defined in claim 2 wherein saidilluminating means is positioned about said tubular means and overliessaid window.
 4. A system as defined in claim 2 wherein said chamber is apressure or vacuum chamber, and said window is sealed in said windowopening.